5000 ml erlenmyer flast and stir plate setup

[therackman]

I've been doing yeast starters with the 1000 ml yeast starter kit from NB and using the intermittent shake/swirl method rather than a stir plate. I was listening the the BN podcast on yeast and John and Jamil recommend getting a 5000 ml erlenmeyer flask because that's as big as you'll ever need for higher gravity beers.

I've been looking into 5000 ml erlenmeyer flasks and stir plates that can hold a flask this large. I will probably order the flask from morebeer $39.99 http://morebeer.com/products/erlenmeyer-flask-5000-ml.html?gclid=CO_ryrPY9bgCFcN_QgodMBUAow and the stirstarter stir plate for 5000 ml flasks from williamsbrewing $79.90 + $6.80 shipping http://www.williamsbrewing.com/STIRSTARTER-FOR-3000MM-TO-5000MM-FLASKS-P3137.aspx. I've also heard the vortex stir plate from NB can hold 5000 ml flasks, but their website says for 1000-2000 ml flasks. http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/brewing-equipment/the-vortex-stir-plate.html

Before I order, I wanted to ask for thoughts on this setup. Although I've looked into building my own stir plate, I would rather order one if I can find a quality product for less than $100. Are there alternatives to the stirstarter plate that I should look into? Any thoughts/recommendations are appreciated.

 

[RCCOLA]

I use the regular $42 stirstarter plate and standard stir bar for 1 gallon starters in a 1 gallon glass jug. It works just fine, pulls a small vortex but does take a bit of holding your mouth right to get the bar balanced on the domed jar bottom.

 

[therackman]

I use the regular $42 stirstarter plate and standard stir bar for 1 gallon starters in a 1 gallon glass jug. It works just fine, pulls a small vortex but does take a bit of holding your mouth right to get the bar balanced on the domed jar bottom.

Thanks. So something like this? http://morebeer.com/products/glass-jar-1-gallon-clear.html Do you just boil your water/DME in a saucepan then add the wort and yeast to the 1 gal jug when cooled and put on the stir plate?

 

[RCCOLA]

Thanks. So something like this? http://morebeer.com/products/glass-jar-1-gallon-clear.html Do you just boil your water/DME in a saucepan then add the wort and yeast to the 1 gal jug when cooled and put on the stir plate?

Yep, that's what I do.
I got my jar at a flea market. It's a 1 gallon glass tea jug without a spout. Like this

Walmart sells some cracker and cookie jars that look pretty good for ~ $5. Look for the flattest base inside. They sell these as single jars in store. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Anchor-Ho...gMethod=Recommendation:wm:RecentlyViewedItems

I have one jug that's hard to balance the bar inside. I put a small O-ring in the middle of the stirbar and it balances out then.